10 High-Paying Jobs That Let You See the World

If your work or school schedule leaves you little time to pursue your passion for travel, you might find yourself dreaming of a job that lets you see the world.

The good news is you don’t have to take a job as a hostel host, seasonal cruise ship staffer or some other position that provides a paltry paycheck. In fact, there are quite a few high-paying jobs in other industries that require travel.

Interpreter or Translator

Although there are plenty of positions for people with advanced language skills who want to work in domestic settings such as schools, courtrooms and hospitals, interpreters and translators may also travel frequently to make use of their marketable skills abroad.

Those who want to act as international interpreters or translators should become proficient in the languages that are most frequently used in their target destinations.

How Much It Pays

Salaries vary throughout the industry, but those who have mastered industry-specific jargon are likely to parlay their skills into higher paychecks.

For example, the median annual salary for translators and interpreters who worked in professional, scientific and technical services was $52,060 in May 2016, according to the BLS, while government interpreters and translators earned $50,880.

Overall, the median salary for interpreters and translators was $46,120 and the highest 10 percent earned more than $83,010.

Open a New Bank Account

3/20

Rawpixel Ltd / iStock.com

Meeting Planner

Meeting, convention and event planners coordinate events and meetings by arranging locations, transportation and food service, among many other duties.

Planners work all kinds of events, from weddings to professional conferences, and they may travel regularly to visit venues or attend the events they organize.

4/20

Rawpixel Ltd / iStock.com

How Much It Pays

Most planners hold bachelor’s degrees in meeting and event management or other common fields of study such as communications and business, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

With an average annual salary of $47,350, planners may not be the most heavily compensated occupation on this list, but there are other perks to consider. On top of regular travel, demand for event planners is on the rise, with employment expected to increase by 11 percent from 2016 to 2026 — making it one of the fastest-growing jobs across all occupations.

Foreign Service Officer

As a consular officer for the Foreign Service, you’ll work abroad for two to three years at a time. The face of America overseas, these officers perform a variety of duties, such as interviewing applicants for visas and assisting U.S. citizens with passport and legal issues.

You’ll need a strong educational background and will have to sit for and pass a Foreign Service Officer Test and oral assessment to score a job in this field. You’ll also have to pass several security clearance checks.

How Much It Pays

For example, candidates with a bachelor’s degree and no professional experience or no bachelor’s degree and six or fewer years of professional experience can expect to earn a base salary of $54,176 for an overseas position. Foreign Service officers may also be eligible for allowances and incentives such as cost of living allowances or recruitment and retention incentives.

CIA Spy

The Central Intelligence Agency’s Directorate of Operations, formerly known as the Clandestine Service, handles the clandestine collection of human intelligence as well as covert actions that advance national security and foreign policy goals.

As an operations officer, you’ll spend most of your time serving in multi-year assignments in various overseas locations. Job duties include secretly “spotting, assessing, developing, recruiting and handling non-US citizens with access to foreign intelligence vital to U.S. foreign policy and national security decisionmakers,” according to the CIA’s site.

How Much It Pays

To apply for a job as an operations officer, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree and solid grades as a starting point if you’re just leaving school. Successful candidates can then expect to undergo extensive classroom and hands-on training.

The listed salary for this high-paying government job ranges from $58,108 to $88,450, although the CIA site indicates earning a higher starting salary is possible for those who have applicable experience.

How Much It Pays

For the best teaching jobs, you’ll need several years of experience. Depending on where you work, monthly salaries can top $5,000, adding up to more than $60,000 a year.

The best-paying job markets these days are in the Middle East and Asia, with positions in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea often offering premium perks as well as substantial salaries.

Zoologist or Wildlife Biologist

Zoologists and wildlife biologists study animals and their interactions with their ecosystems. They research the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals as well as humans’ impact on wildlife and natural habitats.

Whereas some zoologists and wildlife biologists spend hours in offices and labs, others focus on gathering data and studying animals in their natural habitats around the world.

How Much It Pays

Those who want to lead independent research or land a university position should be prepared to invest the time, effort and money it takes to earn a Ph.D. But it is possible to earn an entry-level position with a bachelor’s degree, according to the BLS.

The median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists was $60,520, with the lowest paid 10 percent earning less than $39,150 and the highest 10 percent bringing in more than $98,540.

Archaeologist or Anthropologist

Archaeologists and anthropologists study the origin of humans using a wide variety of methods and skills. Basic duties involve assessing and studying cultures, languages, archaeological remains and physical characteristics of people around the world. Archaeologists and anthropologists are commonly employed by research organizations and government agencies.

Additionally, some archaeologists and anthropologists specialize in fieldwork, which requires long periods of travel, often overseas.

How Much It Pays

You’ll need a master’s degree or a doctorate to apply for a job as an archaeologist or anthropologist, but future positions may be in short supply. Jobs in the field are expected to increase by a slower-than-average rate of 4 percent through 2026.

Should you land a spot, you can expect a median annual wage of $63,190, according to the BLS. The highest 10 percent of professionals earned more than $99,590 as of May 2016.

Astronaut

Becoming an astronaut is certainly no easy task — according to NASA, there are only 45 active U.S. astronauts.

And it makes sense when you look at some of the job’s requirements. Along with some strict physical requirements, aspiring NASA astronauts must hold — at the very minimum — a bachelor’s degree in engineering, physical science or an equivalent field of study and have at least 1,000 hours or three years of experience in piloting a jet aircraft. Those who are accepted must then complete a two-year candidate program that includes training in areas such as medicine, military water survival and robotics.

But if you manage to work your way into the elite corps, you could be presented with the ultimate travel opportunity: a trip to outer space.

18/20

vicspacewalker / Shutterstock.com

How Much It Pays

According to information from NASA, “salaries for civilian Astronaut Candidates are based on the Federal Government’s General Schedule pay scales for grades GS11 through GS14, and are set in accordance with each individual’s academic achievements and work experience. Selected military personnel will be detailed to [Johnson Space Center], but will remain in an active duty status for pay, benefits, leave and other similar military matters.”

For civilians, that adds up to a low-end starting salary of around $66,026 to a high of $144,566.

Airline Pilot

Most pilots start their careers flying commercial planes for charters, rescue operations and firefighting, with some moving on to work for regional or major airlines after accruing thousands of hours of flight experience. Men and women who work as airline pilots generally need to have a college degree. Additionally, these professionals hold commercial pilot licenses and Airline Transport Pilot certificates from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Although the job comes with a fair amount of stress, the time and training to become a pilot pays off. Not only do airline pilots hold jobs that require travel, they can also earn free or discounted fares and other perks that make seeing the world easier and more affordable.

How Much It Pays

Once they make the jump to an airline, pilots, copilots and flight engineers could expect a median annual wage as of $127,820 of May 2016, although the top 10 percent of earners took home more than $208,000, according to the BLS.

Experts predict employment for airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers to grow by about 3 percent through 2026, with increased efficiency practices by airlines contributing to slower than average job growth.

Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers appearing on this site are from advertisers from which this website receives compensation for being listed here. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). These offers do not represent all financial or credit offers available.

We make money easy.

Get email updates to help you make more, save more and live a richer life.